Witnessing an Accident

This morning I had to drive my sister to the airport and on my way home I was almost rear-ended. Instead, the driver swerved and ended up veering all over the road until she slammed into the median. I witnessed all of this in my rear-view mirror and I was pretty shaken up. I know I'm not at fault for the accident (I saw the woman looking down before she almost hit me) but I feel guilty for not stopping or calling 911. I had my daughter with me and my car didn't get hit so I kept driving. I've been thinking about this all day. So I guess my question is this: If you witnessed an accident should/would you call 911 or check on the driver? Please keep in mind that I don't mean minor car accidents but an accident where there could be injuries.

This morning I had to drive my sister to the airport and on my way home I was almost rear-ended. Instead, the driver swerved and ended up veering all over the road until she slammed into the median. I witnessed all of this in my rear-view mirror and I was pretty shaken up. I know I'm not at fault for the accident (I saw the woman looking down before she almost hit me) but I feel guilty for not stopping or calling 911. I had my daughter with me and my car didn't get hit so I kept driving. I've been thinking about this all day. So I guess my question is this: If you witnessed an accident should/would you call 911 or check on the driver? Please keep in mind that I don't mean minor car accidents but an accident where there could be injuries.

I do think you should stop or call 911 if you witness an accident. I always do. If someone witnessed me or one of my loved ones having an accident I would be very grateful if they stopped to help or call 911. In my opinion, it's just the right thing to do.

I do think you should stop or call 911 if you witness an accident. I always do. If someone witnessed me or one of my loved ones having an accident I would be very grateful if they stopped to help or call 911. In my opinion, it's just the right thing to do.

Yes I think you should call and make sure they're okay. If they got seriously injured, getting them help as soon as possible is crucial. Also, if they passed away, I'd feel awful knowing that I could have at least called. A young man nearly hit us last spring. I was with my parents. He ended up upside down in a ditch. None of us hesitated to jump out of the car and run to get him out of his car before he drown.

Yes I think you should call and make sure they're okay. If they got seriously injured, getting them help as soon as possible is crucial. Also, if they passed away, I'd feel awful knowing that I could have at least called. A young man nearly hit us last spring. I was with my parents. He ended up upside down in a ditch. None of us hesitated to jump out of the car and run to get him out of his car before he drown.

That was so incredibly selfish I have no words. Friday before last my daughter and I were hit into a median on 95 and even though we spun around facing traffic, and my bumper and half my engine were strewn around the road, it took 20 minutes before one person stopped. How do you know they didn't have children in the car? Or that a pregnant woman wasn't in there? Get your head out of your rear end and stop thinking about yourself. How would you feel if nobody helped you? That's what you deserve since you'd gladly drive on after watching an accident. I really can't get over the selfishness of this post. I would never drive by something and not call 911 in the LEAST

That was so incredibly selfish I have no words. Friday before last my daughter and I were hit into a median on 95 and even though we spun around facing traffic, and my bumper and half my engine were strewn around the road, it took 20 minutes before one person stopped. How do you know they didn't have children in the car? Or that a pregnant woman wasn't in there? Get your head out of your rear end and stop thinking about yourself. How would you feel if nobody helped you? That's what you deserve since you'd gladly drive on after watching an accident. I really can't get over the selfishness of this post. I would never drive by something and not call 911 in the LEAST

Yeah I think you should stop and call, at least try to help. A friend of mine was driving home late at night and a horse ran out in front of her and she hit it. She hit her head and was so confused and disorientated that she didn't call 000 (like 911 but in AUS) instead she called her mum and couldn't tell her where she was or what had happened. Luckily for her there was a women who came upon her and called 000. I would hope someone would call for me or my loved ones.

Yeah I think you should stop and call, at least try to help. A friend of mine was driving home late at night and a horse ran out in front of her and she hit it. She hit her head and was so confused and disorientated that she didn't call 000 (like 911 but in AUS) instead she called her mum and couldn't tell her where she was or what had happened. Luckily for her there was a women who came upon her and called 000. I would hope someone would call for me or my loved ones.

Not long ago I was behind a guy getting on the highway. It's a steep circle, and it had been raining. He spun out of control & went into the ditch on the side of the highway. I didn't stop ONLY because I had both of my daughters & it was really dark out & nobody around, but I did call 911 right away & pulled over at the next exit. I told them of they needed to talk to me I would be happy to give them a report on what I saw, but explained why I didn't stop. They said that was smart on my part & they stopped & talked to me where I had pulled over at. I absolutely think you should in the LEAST call 911. Even if it seems minor to you. How do you know they didn't get into that minor accident because they were having a major heart attack? (that was general, not specific to the exact situation you were in)..

Not long ago I was behind a guy getting on the highway. It's a steep circle, and it had been raining. He spun out of control & went into the ditch on the side of the highway. I didn't stop ONLY because I had both of my daughters & it was really dark out & nobody around, but I did call 911 right away & pulled over at the next exit. I told them of they needed to talk to me I would be happy to give them a report on what I saw, but explained why I didn't stop. They said that was smart on my part & they stopped & talked to me where I had pulled over at. I absolutely think you should in the LEAST call 911. Even if it seems minor to you. How do you know they didn't get into that minor accident because they were having a major heart attack? (that was general, not specific to the exact situation you were in)..

Just for the record the accident happened very quickly and I was still getting over the shock of it all. I was expecting to get hit when I saw the woman looking down and coming up on me. I didn't check on the driver because I think it would be unsafe to leave my daughter at the side of a busy highway. I absolutely agree that I should have called 911 but at the time I was really shaken up and I didn't really know my location well enough to provide it to them. Several cars were behind the woman who had crashed so I guess I was just assuming someone else would call. I guess my question should have been if you witnessed an accident/were almost in an accident could you keep your composure enough to call 911 or check on the
driver? I could easily say that I would rush over to the car and make sure the woman was okay but I'm wondering if someone was actually in that type of situation how they would react.

Just for the record the accident happened very quickly and I was still getting over the shock of it all. I was expecting to get hit when I saw the woman looking down and coming up on me. I didn't check on the driver because I think it would be unsafe to leave my daughter at the side of a busy highway. I absolutely agree that I should have called 911 but at the time I was really shaken up and I didn't really know my location well enough to provide it to them. Several cars were behind the woman who had crashed so I guess I was just assuming someone else would call. I guess my question should have been if you witnessed an accident/were almost in an accident could you keep your composure enough to call 911 or check on the
driver? I could easily say that I would rush over to the car and make sure the woman was okay but I'm wondering if someone was actually in that type of situation how they would react.

I don't think your required to stop but it's relatively simply to call 911 and report an accident. I know I always have issues when I forget my damn phone so having someone else call would be very welcomed.

I don't think your required to stop but it's relatively simply to call 911 and report an accident. I know I always have issues when I forget my damn phone so having someone else call would be very welcomed.

I think if I had only witnessed it I would have instantly called 911 but mentally I was terrified because I was almost hit. In my head I was literally panicking. In a situation where my life and my daughters life hadn't been threatened I would like to think I would have stayed calm enough to help the woman.

I think if I had only witnessed it I would have instantly called 911 but mentally I was terrified because I was almost hit. In my head I was literally panicking. In a situation where my life and my daughters life hadn't been threatened I would like to think I would have stayed calm enough to help the woman.

also, I've called 911 for a dog on the freeway. no idea how he got there but a pitbull was in the left shoulder on the busy 10 freeway with no way to get anywhere. poor thing looked so scared, I hope animal control got to him in time :(

also, I've called 911 for a dog on the freeway. no idea how he got there but a pitbull was in the left shoulder on the busy 10 freeway with no way to get anywhere. poor thing looked so scared, I hope animal control got to him in time :(

Make all the excuses you want. Doesn't change the fact that you couldn't waste your precious time to so much as call 911. Maybe one day when you need help you'll get lucky and karma won't come back to you. All your responses show are excuses to try and make yourself look like less of a Jerk. I'm not the one with a guilty conscious sweetheart.

Make all the excuses you want. Doesn't change the fact that you couldn't waste your precious time to so much as call 911. Maybe one day when you need help you'll get lucky and karma won't come back to you. All your responses show are excuses to try and make yourself look like less of a Jerk. I'm not the one with a guilty conscious sweetheart.

I have called 911 both times while witnessing an accident. One I did not stop. It was dark out and I was alone. I did not feel safe, so I just called. The other I was actually standing outside and witnessed a boy run across the street while the mother was not looking. The kid was hit by a car. I immediately called 911 and stayed on the scene until the police said it was alright for me to leave.

I have called 911 both times while witnessing an accident. One I did not stop. It was dark out and I was alone. I did not feel safe, so I just called. The other I was actually standing outside and witnessed a boy run across the street while the mother was not looking. The kid was hit by a car. I immediately called 911 and stayed on the scene until the police said it was alright for me to leave.

The other driver could've said you cut them off and caused the accident - you should've called. I think it's a stretch to say your life and your child's lives were in danger by pulling over to the side of the road to make a call.

The other driver could've said you cut them off and caused the accident - you should've called. I think it's a stretch to say your life and your child's lives were in danger by pulling over to the side of the road to make a call.

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